USAF Fighter Wing Asks Public to Stop Lasing Aircraft

In the early 2000’s a Belgian F-16 sqn had the same problem. The squadron set up a nice trap for this annoying behaviour. Had 1 F-16 fly high cap and another flying down low around the base. When the low Viper got lased he called in the location and the high flying Viper located the individual with the targeting pod. Base ops relayed this to the police and the suspect was apprehended. Nobody ever did it again.

I imagine these people have the same mindset of those that throw rocks from overpasses.

As a respected and much loved Military Aviation channel, when we are live streaming, especially at RAF Lakenheath, WE ALWAYS state the house keeping rules such as do not block crash gates or emergency routes, do not use drones, take your litter home, do not use flash at night and WE STATE DO NOT USE LASER PENS AND LIGHTS at aircraft. I hope you do not see this as promoting my own channel, but would like to mention that it IS A PROBLEM at RAF LAKENHEATH and we as a channel do our very best to state this. Lasing pilots can be fatal, can cause crashes and hurt people. WE LOVE OUR AIR FORCE and do not want o see anyone causing harm to them. Thanks for the video and bringing this up. Thank you Sqn Ldr Ted Coningsby

"I can still ask where their parents are." Wombat - Always a couple steps ahead in any conversation. lol

I can imagine Hot Shots. part 3 would have a fighter pilot turn his side view mirror to reflect the laser back into their own eyes.

Hey Sir,, collectively speaking...I'm stoked to see you addressing the issue of laser pointers targeting aircraft! I recall sharing a tweet about the USAF's plea to cease this hazardous activity, and I'm thrilled to see it resonated. It's unfortunate that some individuals tarnish the beauty of mach loops in the Nevada Sierra Mountains and other ranges by engaging in reckless stunts, treating it like some video game. Stricter consequences, including automatic jail time without plea bargaining, are essential to deter those who recklessly endanger lives. Publicizing such measures can serve as a strong warning to those who mistakenly view laser tracking as entertainment.

I fly single pilot 99% of the time and I’ve been lazed several times and it infuriates me every time it happens. It’s especially frustrating when I do pinpoint the location (particularly at my home base where I’m familiar) and neither the local PD or marshal’s office are not remotely interested in pursuing the offender.

I've done some dumb things in my life too but I only endangered myself because of those dumb things. Never in my life did it cross my mind to attempt to blind a pilot...or anyone for that matter.

I was in a star-watching group that would use lasers in 10 - 50mw power range to align their telescopes but they scheduled the event 5 weeks in advance and all aircraft were routed around that area of the sky for 3 hours.

Once my brother and I were cycling home from work around midnight, and there was a police helicopter in the air over what you might call a "bad neighbourhood". As we were passing, I got lased by a green laser pointer by some dude at one of the houses we passed. At the time I had a mirror on my bike so very briefly the laser hit my face, but fortunately they couldn't track me enough to cause further harm. Idiots. Idiots for committing that crime, damned idiots for endangering the safety of innocent bystanders too. I can only presume they lased the chopper too, and it never happened again so I hope they got caught.

Mover, I pulled this off in Japan. We had a serial laser under the pattern in Atsugi. I went flying one night with a clear visor on my JHMCS to drop a quick designation, went to TV mode on the ATFLIR to sweeten it up, switched to IR to get some nice footage (and coordinates) of the guy on his balcony. Was able to get an address on Google Earth. Japanese police showed up, tossed his house, and found a green stargazing laser on a tripod. Arrested. Of note, LEPs only work against the wavelength they’re “tuned” for. Ours were for the wavelength of the IR targeting laser. They had no game against visible lasers. You can get LEPs that will filter out a green or red laser, whatever you want, but then you will also filter that color out completely. Bad, for obvious reasons…

Lasing at aircraft is a federal crime. You can blind a pilot when doing this putting the lives of everyone in the air at risk.

"I can still ask where their parents are.." LOL

Grew up near Lakenheath and Mildenhall, absolutey disgusted by this behaviour.

Parenting for most of the people that are mid 20s and younger, was being given an electronic device usually with a screen and then ignored and left with little to no guidance. It's a really sad and f'd up world now.

Laser safety glasses that protect against the most powerful green and blue lasers would also make green HUDs and Green instrument screens invisible.

Sounds like we need to develop ATG munitions that follow the Ground-based laser.. oh wait... Imagine a F-16 flies by and drops a precision guided message that says "MY EYE"

"Mines were in my bag when I got lased!" xD

I can say for certain the times I've been lased if i got my hands on who did it, the following news article would be a big deterrent

In the UK, it is most likely much more mosoleum "immigrants" who are doing it with nefarious intent, rather than regular UK residents. But back in the good ol' days, when I was a kid and before miniature lasers were on the market, I used to shine flashlights up toward aircraft just for the thrill of imagining the possibility that they might see it from all the way up there. It was a novelty and an exciting concept to me as a kid... that would pass a few seconds later. I'm sure lots of people do it with lasers for similar reasons, not realizing how bright it actually is that far away.